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While we reflect on the year gone by, a selection of exceptional long-form articles emerges. These accounts probe multifaceted subjects from political intrigue and historical revelations to profoundly human stories.

The Puzzling Novelist and the Moral Fabric of a Country

A certain Russian novelist rose to fame in the post-Soviet era with scathing commentaries on power. Whereas numerous of his writer peers have encountered censorship or left the nation, he continues to move vast numbers of books. This raises a pertinent query: Has he become an supporter for the regime?

Survival and Collaboration in Syria's Devastating Conflict

The story of a young man, who at 18 was told that his only path out of incarceration was to join the government forces. After 14 years, his past as one of the Syrian leader's fighters may still cost him his life.

A Acrimonious Feud Over Humanity's Earliest Beginnings

The finding of fossilised bones in the Djurab sands in the early 2000s was proclaimed as radically re-writing the narrative of our species. But, not everyone was in agreement. The subsequent intense scholarly debate has dominated the careers of scholars ever since.

The UK Cult That Operated in Plain Sight

One woman was just a young girl when her family joined the Jesus Fellowship. As an grown woman, she played a key role in uncover the disturbing breadth of abuse it had carried out.

A Statesman's Puzzling Record on Human Rights

Many supporters anticipated that the prime minister would renew the the nation's commitment to international law. However, the performance over the past year has been curiously mixed.

Shattering a Country's Identity

A documentary following a remorseful master criminal as she sets up corrupt clients with hidden cameras raises thorny questions: Is this person genuinely changed, and is the director's own intentions?

The Person Who Decontaminates Britain's Most Difficult Scenes

From murder scenes to whale blubber, an extreme cleaner has encountered – and dealt with – it all. In their darkest times, families depend on him to restore peace.

Can an Iconic Institution Survive an "Omni-Crisis"?

Plagued by debates over its collection, precarious funding and the discovery of an insider theft, the UK's leading museum is in deep trouble. The question remains: Can it restore its reputation?

More Than "Morning Sickness": The Suffering of Extreme Pregnancy

Known as a severe form of pregnancy sickness and once labeled 'pernicious vomiting' by the Victorians, this condition has for centuries been without an reliable treatment solution – until potentially now.

A Spectre of Radicalism in Modern Government

A violent fanatic and pioneer of bigotry, a rabbi died a political pariah thirty-five years ago. In the present day, his ideas influence the highest echelons of government.

An British Gentleman With a Dishonest Secret

With his keen intellect and impeccable credentials, it's little wonder that high-net-worth clients trusted him with their wealth. Then they began to become suspicious.

The Small Nation That Emerged as the Global Mediation Center

An incredibly wealthy Gulf state has become a key actor on the world stage, striving to solve some of the most intractable conflicts. Which factors are behind this ambitious role?

An Inside Look at a Leader Gearing Up for Global Battle

Extremely disliked at domestically, the French leader relishes the world stage, where he projects himself as the leader best placed to deal with a certain sitting American leader. Seven years after their last encounter, a writer joined him as he readied himself for the fray.

During the Court Case of a Heartbreaking Story

What led to the daughter of an aristocrat find herself at the a major court with her companion, charged with killing their two-week-old infant?

An End of a Global Aid Agency: Far From Widespread Mourning

When actions were made to dismantle a prominent aid agency, many around the globe were shocked. But on the front lines in a West African nation, this latest letdown was far from unexpected.

A Disturbing Mid-Century Study on Indian Mothers

When information about a medical study in the sixties were revealed, there was widespread shock. But the exact nature of what happened remains partially contested.

The "Master" of the Attention Age

He's spent a full day in a vat of goo, 48 hours buried alive – and distributed huge sums of money to selected contestants. But are these videos simply very clever entertainment – or works of artistic genius?

Existence in a Country Threatened by the Encroaching Seas

With the ocean increasing, much of this Pacific island nation's people is confronting the prospect that their home may soon be submerged. The urgent question is: Where are they supposed to relocate?

A Sorrowful Case of Youth Destitution

When I encountered Craig he was 13 and homeless. Even then thought his life might change for the better. I was tragically wrong.

A International Artificial Intelligence Race and a Pivotal Defection

In 2020, after spending half his life in the US, Song-Chun Zhu took a one-way ticket to his home country. Today, he may possess the answers to which nation wins the global technological rivalry.

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